Quotes from Lata Mangeshkar

My father passed away in 1942, and three-four months after his death, I had to start working. There was a responsibility on my shoulders to run the household. It was my duty as the eldest child in the house.

I really liked Kishore Kumar. He had a virile man's voice, and he was truly versatile.

Nowadays, there are seven music directors in one film. I had never heard of such a thing before. If one of our old music directors was told to share a score with others, he would have left the assignment.

There are so many songs that I could not sing the way I wanted to. When such songs come on television or radio, I shut them off or leave the room.

It was not really the external influences that made me a singer. Music was within me. I was full of it.

Sourav's calm and assured presence sets him apart. His captaincy is of a high order but he bats sensibly and reads situations well. I hope Sourav too becomes a World Cup wining captain.

One has to be fully committed to one's career. Otherwise, there's no point.

From my experience and understanding, I believe money follows name and fame, while recognition calls for a huge amount of sacrifice. To get something, you have to lose something. That's the rule of life.

The privileged classes today are bothered about petrol and diesel prices while the poor can't afford two meals a day. I am a very small person, but I want us to think beyond personal and regional interests.

I have a fierce temper. I've mastered it over the years, but when I'm angry, no one can force me to do anything I don't want to.

I appreciate the change associated with people's growth, but I don't like the changes in our lives. I came to Mumbai in 1945, so imagine my acceptance of the massive changes around. I have witnessed every kind of revolution.

I missed out on my childhood. I had to work hard, but I was immediately given a place in playback.

I feel God has sent me to Earth to sing. I started singing when I was five, but I don't think I've worked as hard as many other people.

For me, awards are a token of respect that people are giving me. So no matter how many awards I am receiving, I always feel emotional.

I have decided that I won't take up assignments that don't interest me.

People, who accused me of practising a monopoly were wrong. The media fuelled rumours about my 'monopoly.' The first question I was always asked during interviews was about my supposed monopoly.

In my opinion, the biggest achievement was by Shankar-Jaikishan. With Raj Kapoor's 'Barsaat,' they changed the way we looked at playback singing.

When I started out, there was so much work that I couldn't think of doing anything else. I would go for recordings by 8.30 A.M., that, too, in trains. I used to come home at night. I was travelling alone everywhere.

I think playback singing has a lot to do with voice acting. I would suggest to all the youngsters to understand the character, situation, and the story behind the songs. That is when you can add soul to the rendition which, I think, is missing in today's music.

As a singer, you have to bring the soul to the song.

I feel I am a little unfit for the kind of music that is being made today. There is a big difference between what I sang earlier and what is being made now. I am not saying this music is bad, but there are too many beats.

I've always loved life, irrespective of all the ups and downs that have filled my journey.

I believe in one power, and that is the hand of God. I respect all religions.

Today, the scope for variety has shrunk drastically. There are only a handful of topnotch composers like A. R. Rahman, Anu Malik, Jatin-Lalit... that's it.